In an intriguing, albeit unconventional return to the ice, Topps is stepping back into the hockey scene with something both familiar and novel. Once a staple in the trading card world, Topps has been absent from the NHL card game for nearly two decades. Since Upper Deck bagged exclusive rights to NHL trading cards in the 2003-04 season, hockey fans and card collectors alike had to bid farewell to the old-time classic—a significant loss, akin to shelving a beloved jersey. But this time, Topps isn’t returning with the same old relics we had come to cherish.
On April 3, the collectible landscape will experience a curious shakeup as Fanatics—a sprawling titan in sports memorabilia and owner of Topps—unveils the Topps Under Wraps: Emanate 2024-25. Now, don’t go fishing out your dusty old card sleeves just yet. Unlike what the nostalgia-seeking hearts might hope for, this isn’t your typical deck of trading cards. Instead, Emanate presents an enthralling crossover—an 8×10 autographed photo series crafted to simulate the look and tactile sensation of a baseball card on growth hormones.
“Even the back of each photo is adorned with player stats and captivating tidbits,” remarked Sal Barry, known for his PuckJunk.com musings, with the kind of approving nod given to a long-lost friend at a reunion.
Each photograph in the Emanate collection is individually hand-signed, serial-numbered, and enhanced with a hologram verifying its authenticity—moving away from the sticker autos so many collectors grumbled about in online card forums. These visual gems are wrapped in a classy, magnetic-ready-to-display folio, elevating them to an exquisite stage of sport artistry.
Piques of collector interest are heightened with six distinctly dazzling color variants that encourage the traditional chase:
– Gold, glistening with a presence of 50 copies.
– Orange, whose sheen stands out among 25.
– Blue, limited to a mere 10.
– Red, a fiery offering of just 5 copies.
– And the royal jewel, Iridescent, unique with its singular 1/1 edition.
True to form, Topps has composed a checklist that hosts over 70 players from all 32 NHL teams, including illustrious personas both historic and current, such as Connor Bedard, Auston Matthews, Alexander Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnon, Igor Shesterkin, and Macklin Celebrini. Yes, even old-school legends like Mark Messier find themselves hushed onto these glossy canvases.
To spice things up for those with an appetite for rarity, multi-signed editions beckon collectors. Among these stunning creations lies a 1/1 triple-signed and inscribable masterpiece with Ovechkin, Bedard, and Matthews—an item to make any collector’s heart quicken and bank account wince.
However, does this innovative venture signify Topps’ long-awaited full-scale reentry into the puck-clashing, ice-shaving world of hockey cards we once knew? Not exactly. We’re not quite back to the days of pack-ripping or chasing that rookie’s golden-foil variant card. But with Emanate, Topps has taken its first measured step back onto that icy surface, one skate steady on known ground while the other tests new terrain.
Pricing for these collectibles positions them at about $130 a pop for one photo—almost akin to buying a piece of fine sportsfolk art nicely ensconced in a ready-to-hang frame.
Formerly shuffled off the rink, Topps is frozen mere moments before crashing back into a game where Fanatics now holds sway over some of the hobby’s mightiest licenses. The question brewing on the edges of this chilly endeavor is not whether Topps is back, but rather how this initial splash might inspire further creative disruptions down the frozen road.
The reentrance might not yet be the blessed resurrection of those rectangular treasures ensconced in your closet, but for the enthusiasts, nostalgia is given a new shape. Who knows what lies on the horizon? For Topps, like any seasoned player, all it takes is one opportune play to turn subtle promise into a triumphant roaring comeback.
